Magnet Facts

Magnetic shielding may seem like the stuff of science fiction novels and movies, but it’s real. Unlike some forces, such as electricity, magnetic fields can’t technically be blocked. This is because there is no monopole magnet--or at least not one that we know. The magnetic field lines run from a magnet’s north and south pole, which makes blocking them difficult. Continue reading →

Do you know that the most powerful magnets in the universe are actually a type of star. Magnetars are the remains of stars that have “run out of fuel”, or in other words, hydrogen. The star is essentially dying, and when this happens, it tries to compensate for the lack of fuel by burning all the types of elements. This smorgasbord of fuels causes the star to burn as a bright red giant, but only for a temporary time. Eventually, the burning causes the star to burst into a supernova explosion. Continue reading →

Some would argue that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines have become as essential to the medical field as blood tests when it comes to diagnosing and treating patients. MRIs allow doctors to see inside the human body non-invasively. A physician named Raymond Damadian and not an engineer was actually the inventor of the earliest MRI model. Recently, MRIs have even been used to guide ultrasound waves in Alzheimer’s treatment. You may already know that magnets are used in magnetic resonance imaging machines, but do you know what types of magnets are used or how it works?  In this blog, we are taking a look at how the magnets in MRIs allow us to see inside the human body. Continue reading →

Magnets are interesting and strange materials. There are still some mysteries that scientists and researchers have yet to solve when it comes to magnets. However, some mysteries have been solved. In this blog, we have compiled a list of some of the strangest facts about magnets and magnetism. Continue reading →

Superconducting magnets are used in MRIs, Maglev trains, particle accelerators and other technologies that often use magnetism and high power conditions to operate. What are superconducting magnets? First, in order to understand what superconducting magnets are we should discuss superconductors and electromagnets. Continue reading →

Saying all sand is magnetic or non-magnetic would be virtually impossible, or frankly, inaccurate. Most sand is created from a natural process called weathering, which could take anywhere from hundreds or millions of years to occur. This process is essentially when the environmental elements breakdown minerals, rocks, and chemicals together over a certain period of time. Continue reading →

Rare earth magnets are magnets that are made from at least one of the seventeen rare earth metals on the periodic table of elements. Mainly it is from one of the fifteen lanthanides that are marked in light orange in the periodic table below. Continue reading →

Wind energy has become one of the most viable clean energy sources on the planet. Windmills were actually used in ancient times, however, it really wasn’t until 1854 when a man named Daniel Hallady started building and manufacturing them. Still, these weren’t electricity-generating machines, but were more commonly used to pump water. It wasn’t until 1888 that Charles F. Brush invented a wind turbine that could generate electricity. Today’s wind turbines are much different than Brush’s early versions. Now, one wind turbine is estimated to power between 225 to 300 households. If its in a location like an offshore wind farm, where the wind is more powerful and consistent, that number could reach over 400 homes. But how do wind turbines work, and what role do permanent magnets play? Continue reading →

It is common knowledge that magnets attract metals but not all metals. Some metals contain certain properties that make them more magnetic than others. One metal that is highly magnetic is iron. What are the other types of magnetic metals? Continue reading →

Almost anything that uses a motor or electricity to operate is built with magnets. That means cars also have them. In fact, magnets can be found in multiple places other than the motor in some cars. Unlike traditional automobiles, electric cars are powered by electricity rather than gas, so they have no tank. Instead, they have large batteries or fuel cells and “fueling up” is much like plugging into an outlet. According to an analysis by the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW), there were over 400,000 electric powered cars on the road in early 2014. Each of those requires magnetism in order to work.  When it comes to electric cars, magnets are essential. How are magnets used in electric cars? Continue reading →